Opposed by the ACLU, this bill would have made it a crime for a person to, during a parade, demonstration, or rally, wear a gas mask, wear protective clothing or equipment designed to prevent a person from injury, or wear any mask at all with the “intent to intimidate another person.” This bill raised serious First Amendment issues in its attempt to allow the government to decide whether a mask in lawful free speech exercises is “intimidating” or not and is especially concerning in its ban on the use of protective clothing.
Ban on Masks (H 7543)
Sponsors
Representative Arthur Corvese
Related Issues
Documents
Related content

RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence v. Bondi
June 16, 2025
Challenging New Federal Grant Requirements, ACLU Of RI, Lawyers’...
June 16, 2025
ACLU and RWU Law School Clinic Sue Again Over ACI’s Failure to...
June 13, 2025
Smith v. RI Department of Corrections
June 13, 2025
NEWSLETTER - 2025 - Spring
June 1, 2025
Arts Organizations Push for Answers in National Endowment for the...
May 12, 2025
ACLU And RWU Law School Clinic Settle Suit Over ACI’s Failure to...
May 7, 2025
Court Denies Preliminary Relief to Arts Organizations
April 2, 2025